By Rebecca Goldfine,Staff Writer

NORWAY – A police detective has charged a Norway man with four counts of gross sexual assault after investigating a boy’s allegations.

Richard T. Hamilton, 53, of 25 Whitman St., allegedly sexually assaulted the boy during the winter of 2005, according to police.

Detective Gary Hill arrested Hamilton Friday and obtained a warrant to search Hamilton’s home for evidence. Hamilton made his first court appearance Monday at the Superior Court where the judge set bail at $1,000 cash or $10,000 in property.

His family bailed him out Monday afternoon, according to a jail official.

Hamilton, who is unemployed, shares a residence with his mother.

The Maine Computer Crimes Task Force is scrutinizing evidence found in Hamilton’s home, Hill said, including a computer.

Hamilton denied the charges when interviewed by Hill May 4. Later, after Hamilton failed a polygraph test given by Maine State Police, he admitted to a state detective that he had engaged in some sexual-like conduct with the boy. But he said he had done it to amuse the boy.

Hamilton told police he once ran an adult video store in Norway. According to a town official, an adult video store, as well as a bakery, operated by a family with the surname Hamilton was open on Main Street around 1998 and 1999 before being sold and converted into a natural food store.

Hamilton also told police that he was investigated once for allegedly sexually assaulting a young girl but was never charged.

Hill said Hamilton has no criminal record for sexual offenses.